To russians Who “Are Not Interested in Politics”, the War Has Come Through Their Grocery Baskets

russia’s economy is feeling the effects of its accumulated problems more and more acutely, and this is now increasingly affecting the “apolitical” russian. This is most evident in supermarkets: the assortment is shrinking, certain items are disappearing or becoming more expensive, and the usual variety is gradually dwindling.

The situation with imported premium-segment products is particularly telling. Expensive chocolate and confectionery from Europe are becoming less and less affordable due to sanctions, logistics, payment issues, and the cost of raw materials. On shop shelves, they are being replaced by cheaper products from russian manufacturers or Asian brands. For russian consumers, this means one simple thing: even if they have the money, there’s nothing to choose from.

Problems are also emerging in both the dairy and juice segments. Tighter requirements for digital labeling are placing an additional burden on small producers who lack the resources to modernize quickly. As a result, the cheapest items may disappear from shops, which is particularly painful for russians who are already forced to cut back on groceries.

Another symptom is the restructuring of food logistics. Seasonal changes, higher transportation costs, and difficulties in delivering fresh produce are leading to chilled fish and some seasonal vegetables being replaced by frozen or processed goods with longer shelf lives. Formally, the shelves remain stocked, but the quality, variety, and price of products are changing to the detriment of the consumer.

Equally telling is the situation regarding shop operations. Round-the-clock operations are being scaled back as retailers face an acute labor shortage and high costs associated with night shifts.

The fuel crisis, high utility bills, new taxes, sanctions pressure, labor shortages, expensive logistics, reduced imports, and falling purchasing power will hit ordinary russians harder and harder.